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Scripture for the day: Acts 23:10-11 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
Thought for the day: 19 of the 27 books that comprise our New Testament deal with the subject of joy. I’m not going to go through all of them. Suffice it to say, most of those times when joy is mentioned, there is the idea of Jesus at the center of the lives of those involved. Several times Jesus used the phrase “be of good cheer.” Each time He uttered those words we find Jesus in the center of whatever was happening. 
 He spoke of forgiveness for our past. “Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the one who was sick of the palsy, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven’” (Matthew 9:2).
 He spoke of companionship for our present. “But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).
 He spoke of victory for our future. “In the world you will have trouble; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 
 When Jesus is in the midst, there is peace, there is joy and there is assurance of our place with Him. This makes useful. Let me see if I can illustrate this for you.
 If I had a glove and I said to the glove, "Glove, pick up that Bible," could the glove do it? The glove has the shape of a hand, with a thumb and fingers. But could the glove pick up a Bible? Of course not; why? Well, perhaps the glove is ineffective because I haven’t shown it how to pick up that Bible. 
 I say again to the glove, “I must apologize, Mr. Glove, I have not told you how to pick up the Bible. Now, put your thumb on top, the fingers underneath, squeeze tight, and lift. Simple, isn’t it? Now, pick it up.” 
 Will anything happen? Of course not. I could say to the glove again and again, “Pick up the Bible,” but nothing will ever happen because the glove is powerless. The glove is empty of life; absolutely helpless until I put my hand into the glove. The moment I put my hand in it, the glove becomes as strong, as flexible, as useful as my hand. Everything that is possible for my hand is now possible for the glove. If the glove could speak, it would say, “I can do all things through the hand which strengthens me.”
 I am the glove; Christ is the hand. When He found me, I was dirty inside and out. He died to cleanse me so that I could be empowered by His presence in the midst of my life. He said to me, as much as to any of His disciples, “I was sent, and now I’m sending you. Be My hands to the world. Speak as I give you the words to say. Run as I strengthen your legs and provide the very air you breathe.”
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill